Morgan trotted along a well-worn forest path, most likely a deer track. It meant water was near and was most likely to lead him to it. It was a warm day, but not nearly as hot as it would get in the height of summer that was approaching. His tongue lolled, keeping him cool and his paws kept him moving. That was all his life was, really. Travel here, wander there. He didn't mind it. He wasn't the sort to settle into a pack, much less be bound to a female. He wrinkled his muzzle at the thought. To be tied down to a female was one of his worst nightmares. It would all be "yes dear" and "no dear" and "right away dear". She'd insist on planting roots like a plant, staying to one den in one place so she could whelp pups that would all have even further demands on him. He'd have to hunt for more and more hungry mouths, deal with raising the little snivelers... he shuddered his coat all over at the thought.
A shadow passed above him, a black spot blinking out the light that shone sporadically through the branches above. The singing bugs all went silent at once, leaving the forest eerily quiet, especially when one hadn't even been aware of all the sound that had existed before the moment of utter silence. He didn't pause in his steady trot, though he did cast a look upwards. A raccous caw raked the air, and the feathered form divebombed at him.
He didn't even duck his head, so used to her antics as he was. She spread her tucked wings at the last moment, zooming over his head so close her balled talons touched the tip of his ear, and his muzzle was stroked by the feathers of her wings as she strove to halt her dive. More cawing ensued, laughter that bounced among the trees harshly. The voice of a raven was not at all a thing of beauty, but it was welcome to Morgan's ears. "What are you hoping to accomplish, daughter dear?" he inquired in a mild tone that held neither rebuke nor approval.
"You were thinking about giiiirrrls," she answered him mockingly, swerving to circle erratically directly above him. "I could tell," she imparted triumphantly, chortling and clacking her beak in self-approval.
He sighed and shook his head ruefully, casting her an amused glance. "Yer a canny one, girlie," he replied, mock-snapping at her as she soared by. She gave an equally faked squawk of dismay and careened to disappear into the bushes with a thud. Unalarmed, he kept trotting along, passing her bush without a glance. His ears did flicker back at her as she poked her head out indignantly, knowing she was riled that he hadn't even checked on her. She should know better by now.
"Time to earn your keep, m'girl," he called back to her. "Scout ahead and find out how far the water is from here." It was a command, but it was also said cajolingly. She muttered in her throat and rose clumsily from the ground, smoothing out her flight as she gained height.
"If I have to, father, she pretended to grumble, aukking loudly to try and give the impression she was disgruntled as she flew ahead up the trail. His bark of laughter flaoting up from behind niformed her she'd failed to convince him, and once more the forest rang with raven laughter.
